This course will examine and critique critical psychological theories and research that address various forms of the African-American family. There will be an overview of the political, cultural and economic factors that have contributed to both the forms and functions of the African-American family over the past four hundred years. Students will also closely examine current family forms such as extended family, single parent families and nuclear families. We will also discuss the role that both resident and non-resident fathers play, the challenges of gender and also the role of education. Students will utilize material from diverse data sets including census data, various theoretical approaches and personal experiences to develop an appreciation of the psychological dynamics of various forms of African-American family life.